Catholic Women’s Giving Circle builds community, assists those in need

Sharon Haggenjos, left, Anne Wilmes, Cathy Kroeff and Ellen Sanders were among those who attended an April 29 Catholic Women’s Giving Circle launch event for its 2025 grant process at Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis. (Submitted photo)

By Mike Krokos

Deacon John Cord understands the importance of the archdiocesan Catholic Women’s Giving Circle (CWGC).

As the coordinator of Corrections Ministry in the archdiocese, he has witnessed firsthand how funds from the group have impacted women and men being released from prison.

His office was one of three ministries last fall that received a $25,000 grant from CWGC. The others were Catholic Charities Bloomington and Mother Theodore Catholic Academies in Indianapolis.

“We are very blessed by the funds from the Catholic Women’s Giving Circle. We are using this money to set up a mentoring program for women and men who are returning from prison across the archdiocese,” Deacon Cord said.

The funds will be used as seed money to enter into an agreement with Trusted Mentors (a program that matches trained volunteer mentors with at-risk adults to help them remain housed and out of prison) and the United Methodist Church of Indiana, Deacon Cord noted.

“We are hoping to have the mentoring program started in Marion County by the fourth quarter of 2025. Once it is established in Marion County, we will expand into the counties where we will be launching a re-entry program in 2026,” Deacon Cord added.

“Without the amazing gift from the Catholic Women’s Giving Circle, we would not be able to get the mentoring program off the ground so quickly.”

Deacon Cord was among the speakers at an April 29 CWGC launch event for its 2025 campaign at Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis.

Any Catholic woman in central and southern Indiana can join, multiplying her own and the circle’s ability to impact the works of Catholic ministries in the archdiocese. (Related: Catholic Women’s Giving Circle membership and grant applicant information)

Initiated last year, CWGC celebrates the growing number of women giving to philanthropic causes. Within this endeavor, a grant process is open to ministries in the archdiocese. CWGC members evaluate grant applications and vote to determine grant recipients. The initiative seeks to empower Catholic women to collectively support Catholic causes, as well as share in the camaraderie of time spent with women who share the same faith-based values.

Kim Pohovey, director of major and planned gifts for the archdiocese, introduced the concept of an archdiocesan Catholic women’s giving circle, which gives them the opportunity to grow in faith, knowledge and friendship as well.

About 60 women attended the April gathering, Pohovey noted.

The process is repeated annually, both in terms of membership and awarding grants.

Membership lasts one year, with commitments of $1,000 or $250 determining whether a member gets a whole or quarter vote on the final grant recipients. Membership this year is open through June 30.

“We hope to raise $75,000 in order to award three $25,000 grants again this year,” Pohovey noted.

“This opportunity is available to any Catholic woman in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis,” she added. “They did not need to attend the launch event to join the circle. Whether in Indianapolis or not, women can take part in person or vote online.”

Colleen Renie, who founded the Villages of Merici in Indianapolis, a Catholic housing community for people with developmental disabilities, also spoke at the gathering.

“The steering committee decided to highlight at their events Catholic women doing amazing things in our community,” Pohovey said. “Colleen spoke about her ministry as well as female philanthropy.”

‘Incredibly powerful and moving’

Kathy O’Connell was among the attendees at the April gathering.

A member of St. Pius X Parish in Indianapolis, she had several takeaways from the event.

“Hearing from one of the recipients of the inaugural grants [Corrections Ministry] was incredibly powerful and moving,” O’Connell said. “It was a charity that I had not considered volunteering in, but after hearing about their work, the dedication of the volunteers, the magnitude of appreciation and the significant impact on the recipients, it is certainly on my radar now.

“Becoming involved in CWGC has opened my eyes to more specific needs in our community,” she added. “Ultimately, that impacts where we choose to contribute our time, talent and treasure.”

‘Their generosity made a difference’

Like O’Connell, Cathy Kroeff appreciated learning how a grant awarded last year is being used. She was impressed by the Corrections Ministry’s efforts to impact the lives of more inmates.

“I believe that type of accountability, giving the donors a firsthand witness of how their generosity made a difference, is critical to keeping momentum for the group,” she said.

A former longtime member of St. Matthew the Apostle Parish in Indianapolis, Kroeff and her husband are now members of St. Louis de Montfort Parish in Fishers, Ind., in the Lafayette Diocese.

They have been longtime supporters of Catholic schools in the archdiocese, including supporting Mother Theodore Catholic Academies and the Alliance for Catholic Education of the University of Notre Dame in northern Indiana.

“I wish every child had the opportunity to learn in an environment where Christ is at the center of their education,” she said.

A member of the CWGC grant committee, Kroeff “had previously been involved with 100 Women Who Care in Hamilton County, which operates on a similar donor model supporting non-profits in the county and saw the power of women combining financial and personal commitments to causes that make a difference in people’s lives.

“To be able to combine my giving with other Catholic women and focus on faith-driven organizations was very motivating to me,” she added.

‘Lifting up our community’

A member of the CWGC steering committee, Carrie Hagovsky was amazed “to see so many women looking to connect and create community around serving others.”

She said being a part of CWGC has opened her eyes to give in different ways, but added the examples her parents provided for her and her siblings continues to guide her.

“My parents instilled philanthropy and service in me and my siblings at a young age, and it’s been with me ever since,” noted Hagovsky, a member of St. Barnabas Parish in Indianapolis. “I worked in non-profit fundraising for over a decade, and now that I’m in another role, it’s very important for me to find other ways to plug into my community and give back. The [Catholic Women’s] Giving Circle also provides an amazing group of women to network with and have a shared mission of lifting up our community.”

‘Creating more awareness in our communities’

Stewardship and helping others grow in their lives of faith is at the heart of the organization’s mission.

“I pray the organization bears the fruits of creating more awareness in our communities,” O’Connell said. “I think that when people see or hear the real stories, they are more likely to get involved and contribute to benefit the cause.”

While the “treasure” component of stewardship is an integral part of CWGC, Kroeff noted “time and talent” are important, too. She is hopeful “many professional volunteers will see opportunities to roll up their sleeves as well as write checks.”

“Whenever I hear someone say ‘it’s in God’s hands,’ I can’t help but think, ‘But we are God’s hands,’ ” she said. “What a privilege it is to be in a position to help so many people through these ministries.”
 

(For more information on the archdiocesan Catholic Women’s Giving Circle or application for their grants, see related article or go to www.archindy.org/womensgiving.) †